Published: April 21, 2008 10:14 am      

Defense firms ‘leaders of technology’

Most industries plan for how they expect to be affected by technology.

The defense and aerospace industry thinks about how it will affect technology.

Many of the greatest technological advances of the past century were given birth by companies in the defense sector. The Internet, geopositioning systems and rocketry are just a few examples of innovations developed for military use that have been successful as commercial applications.

“They’re the leaders of technology,” said John Polacek, chief operating officer of JWF Defense Systems, who has more than 30 years experience in the industry, including time as a vice president with BAE Systems, a heavyweight in the sector.

Unfortunately, for national security reasons, much of what local companies are working on for the future cannot be discussed.

There is a focus on renewable energy and Internet security. But at the moment, research and development firms such as Concurrent Technologies Corp. are feeling a pinch as large amounts of defense funding have been shifted to the war effort in the Middle East.

“There’s a limited requirement for companies like CTC at the moment,” said Dan DeVos, president and CEO of CTC.

“There is a greater requirement for companies that do manufacturing and assembly. Ironically, that’s the traditional strength of the work force here. And we’re seeing the results. Look at the companies who are the most successful – JWF, DRS (Laurel Technologies) and Kuchera are all growing as fast as they can get the people.”

Local defense companies that cater to the manufacturing and assembly niches are making great efforts to integrate the latest technologies available.

JWF Industries recently added a new laser metal cutting tool. Additionally, it is renovating the former Bethlehem 8-inch mill with the latest in robotic welding equipment that will allow the company to perform large-scale weldments more efficiently and accurately.

Similarly, Kuchera Industries and Kuchera Defense are constantly upgrading their equipment to provide the most efficient processes possible.

Bill Kuchera, CEO, said he believes the near future of the industry will bring another shift in emphasis on part of the Department of Defense. He said his company will be ready as it will shift more of its attention toward more commercialization of military technologies.

“When you’re at the leading edge of technology with the military, a lot of that has the same applications for emergency first responders,” Kuchera said.

“If you’re building a sensor, for instance, for the military, there is probably going to be a good application for police or firefighters. They’re not going to get the best of the best, but they’re going to get something that is going to be more cost effective because it doesn’t need to be able to work under the same kind of extreme conditions as it would for the military.

“We are able to deruggedize some of the equipment for commercial use. You can use a lot of less-expensive components in the construction, and it brings the price way down.”

While the more blue-collar companies are making great progress, the local research and development firms also are making their mark. MTS Technologies, for instance, has developed innovative technologies being used by Lockheed Martin in its VH-71 Presidential Helicopter program.

“Five to 10 years down the road, the commercial world will be taking advantage of technologies we’re working on now,” said Frank Meyer, president of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, N.Y., which works with several companies in the region.

“This project with MTS Technologies is a good example. The technology that is being developed now for use in this project will be seen as avant-garde for the next five to 10, if not 20, years. So we’re already at the cutting edge.”